The sunlight warmed my eyelids, coaxing me awake. I stretched, a slow, deliberate movement, and blinked away the lingering sleep. Disorientation struck – this wasn’t my room. A wave of curiosity washed over me. Whose room was it? I rose and walked to the window, letting the sun illuminate the silver strands of my hair. Turning from the view, I left the room and descended the stairs.
Aaron was already seated on the couch. This must be his house, I thought.
“Hey, sleep well?” he asked as I settled onto the opposite end of the couch. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, the color of [E/C] stones, and nodded. “Wait… why am I here? How did I even get here?” The fragmented memories of the previous day surfaced – the dizzying fall, Aaron’s strong arms catching me.
“You fell out of the tree and knocked yourself out,” he explained. “Your bruises didn’t seem too bad, so I brought you back here.”
I reached for my phone and quickly typed a message into the girls’ group chat.
Y/N: HELP!!!!
Aphmau: What is it?
Katelyn: What’s wrong, Y/N?
Kawaii~Chan: What happened, Y/N~Senpai?
Y/N: I’m at Aaron’s!!!
Aphmau: Isn’t that a good thing?
Katelyn: Yeah, don’t you like him or whatever?
Kawaii~Chan: EEEEEEEEE Kawaii~Chan ships it!!!!!!! (You and Aaron’s ship name a.k.a Y/A/S/N) Y/A/S/N!!!!!!!!!
Y/N: Great, but no. I woke up in his room. Luckily, he slept downstairs, but still… I’m here with him alone!!
Aphmau: Just come over here. I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind.
Y/N: But I don’t want to make him feel bad!
Katelyn: So just ask him if he wants to come with you.
Y/N: OK, I’ll be there in a bit.
Katelyn: See ya there.
Kawaii~Chan: Bye Y/N~Senpai!
Aphmau: See ya here!
I glanced at Aaron and began, “Hey, Aphmau invited me over. I was wondering if you wanted to come too?” I avoided his gaze, a blush rising in my cheeks.
“Sure,” he replied. “Who else is going to be there?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, rising to my feet. I walked toward the door, Aaron following close behind. We walked to Aphmau’s house in silence, a comfortable tension humming between us. I knocked on the door, and Aphmau pulled us both inside, into the living room.
The others were already gathered – everyone from the semi-sleepover. “Now let’s play truth or dare!” Aphmau announced with a mischievous grin.
“Just great,” I muttered under my breath.